Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said yesterday all concerns expressed by his community had been vindicated in the review of Environment Canterbury, which really proposed dismantling of the local body.
He said he looked forward to the possibility of a new water authority being more effective and dealing better with local communities.
Waitaki catchment residents had not been happy with the way ECan had dealt with them, resulting in a public meeting at Glenavy in 2007 calling for a breakaway central South Island region.
That was picked up by the Waitaki, Waimate, Mackenzie, Timaru and Ashburton District Councils which explored the option.
Waimate Mayor John Coles said the report supported the 10 Canterbury mayors' concerns with ECan when they wrote to Environment Minister Nick Smith and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide last year.
"In fact, it appears worse than that," he said.
Dr Smith said the report on ECan was "concerning and challenging".
"It is difficult for the Government to ignore the unanimous conclusions of the four reviewers and the major issues they raise about ECan's capacity to manage water in Canterbury," he said.
The ministers said the Government had not formed a view on the major changes proposed in the report.
"We will be consulting with Environment Canterbury, Canterbury mayors, Ngai Tahu and key water stakeholders before making any decision.
"Our considerations will be mindful of the recommendations for urgent intervention but also of the huge significance to the long-term well being of Canterbury of these proposals," the ministers said.
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean is keeping "an open mind" on the review and its recommendations.
"It's important we focus on the review and everyone has time to assimilate and discuss it," she said.
The review vindicated all the complaints she had received from constituents about ECan's performance and many of the recommendations would address issues they raised.
Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers president Michael Morrow said the review reflected the poor long-term leadership of ECan and not the recently elected chairman Alec Neill.
"If you want to know how not to run a regional council then this report is as critical as you can get.
"I imagine the spotlight will now turn to other regional councils, given this report could be applied to a number," Mr Morrow said.
Federated Farmers was now interested in the future and the leadership being shown by Mr Neill.
A "supertanker of a council" could not be turned around in a few months and the report gave Mr Neill the ammunition to bring about wholesale changes.
Mr Morrow suggested the council should be given the chance to resolve the issues before a commission was appointed to replace it.